EUGENE -- Hamani Stevens is playing left guard with light feet, quick hands and a heavy heart in 2014, the combination of which has put football in perspective for him and refocused his energy, he said, for the better.

Stevens is dedicating his senior season to his grandmother, Mary, who passed away before spring practices started in April.

"She was a big part of my life and to lose her meant a lot," said the Hemet, Calif., native. "I know she wanted me to be successful in whatever I do on and off the field."

Stevens is one of many Oregon Ducks preparing for the Aug. 30 season opener after significant personal losses. Running back Byron Marshall is also dedicating this season to his grandfather, who passed away during spring practices. Offensive line coach Steve Greatwood and head coach Mark Helfrich have also recently endured the loss of a parent.

Personally, the spring was one of Stevens' more difficult moments. But athletically, he was a standout. In April, Greatwood said the 6-foot-3, 307-pound lineman's "work ethic is better than I've ever seen it. His attention to detail, his physicalness ... for the first time in his career I really see him trying to take the coaching and apply it to what he's doing."

In retrospect, Stevens said Tuesday, that side of him emerged in the wake of his grandmother's passing. He was already a key contributor for Oregon before the spring by starting all 13 games in 2013, the first eight at the right side and the final five to the left. And he was durable: He played on 898 plays last season, the most of any Ducks offensive player.

But now he considers himself stronger mentally.

"I have to admit I did get more serious about playing better and getting better as a football layer as an offensive linemen and it had a lot to do with my grandma passing away," he said. "It happened right before spring ball and I took it and used it to get better.

"I always go into every practice and try to figure out one thing that I didn't do as well the previous practice. Coach 'Wood helps with that a lot as far as film study and telling me what to do. Maybe it's footwork, or hand placement, body leverage with pad level. I'm always trying to figure out one thing to do every day."